**APRIL & MAY 2021 BREAST CANCER CHEMO**

Thanks the arthritis is top of my list of questions as have had a joint replacement in the last eighteen month# an£ was due another las5 summer which was delayed for obvious reasons.  I already suffer With coughs and tightness of my chest hence having CT scans to ensure it was nothing untoward so I am hoping for some sort of reassurance that nothin* can be worse than what I have already had x

so glad you got through it all and that you have come to terms with the issues that arose.  To be honest I may no5 even do it at all unless they allow me enough time to feel well first.

gwennie

Hi Gwennie, I'm really sorry you're having such a tough time

My oncologist hasn't actually said that Docetaxel is or isn't harder going than FEC, that is just me reading between the lines on here and the dreaded Google!

I completely understand your reservations in continuing, I really struggled to agree to starting it at all but decided that I had to feel that I have given it my best shot. I think that is all any of us can do. The decision to accept or decline treatment is deeply personal. I hope you get plenty of information from your oncology team and can make an informed decision that feels right for you.

I'm just home from my 3rd FEC, showered and jammies on. Clean bedclothes about to go on the bed ready for some R&R.

With regards to the dreaded constipation I was under the impression that it is the anti-nausea drugs and the steroids that cause it rather than the chemo drugs themselves. I was told I would have to up the Movicol for longer for the 3 rounds of Docetaxel as the steroid intake is increased....

Good luck with your appointment and the decision making xx

Lynne

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone is dealing with ongoing nausea? I’m day 7 now and just feel so sick all the time, if I eat, if I don’t eat, my stomach is just so queasy. 

I have sea-bands and gin gins and those help a little, but there’s no real relief. I’m scared to start back on the anti sickness now as I don’t want to end up constipated and in pain - I just can’t seem to get a balance. Anyone taking anti sickness meds more long term after treatments? 

Anyone doing anything else to help? 

Thanks

Ruby xx

Felt nauseous for 7days but then slowly eased. Had option of prolonging one med which I did for a day. Found peppermint tea helped ( not keen but if it helps). I found nibbling little and often as if something was moving downwards for that moment it eased the nausea. Chatted with oncologist. Second chemo done today. Accelerated EC. Dr is trying me on a different combination of meds this time so fingers firmly crossed. Talk to your medics and ask what they can do to help would be my advice. 

Hi Ruby, I find a cup of ginger tea and something small to nibble at helps a bit...I have been nibbling at oat cakes...

What are gin gins? Something to do with ginger?

I hope you find something that works xx

Are you taking anything to relieve the constipation? Could you try Movicol or Laxido to keep you "moving" and keep taking the anti-nausea drugs?

Thanks, they changed my anti sickness meds this time too and I did really well for the first few days, just these past few have been rough. Peppermint tea is good as you say and I’ll try to keep nibbling on something.

Ruby xx

I have Laxido so I could take that with the anti sickness as you say. I’ll see if I can speak to the chemo team tomorrow too. I was so sore last time I’m scared to have a repeat! 

Gin-gins are sweets made of ginger especially for nausea. They help a little. I’ll need to get some good ginger tea too. 

Thanks for the reply, curious to see how others cope with it.

Ruby xx

Sorry to hear nausea is bad I had really bad nausea for about 12 days on EC. Took psyllium capsules to keep me moving and used metacloperamide anti nausea as it has the opposite effect to most and speeds things through I was told. I had to take cyclazine anti nausea at night as it made me sleepy and definitely found nibbling little and often helped. I drank sugar free ginger beer as well as what others have suggested. Downside I put on about 10lbs as had to keep snacking
Thankfully no nausea with Docetaxel except for the three steroid days. hope you get some relief, it’s truly awful feeling sick all the time. 

denise x

Hi Ruby,

Day 4 for me too. I think because I start to do more a bit too soon. After the first cycle I also had an energy drop around day 15-18, probably for the same reason. But - as I didn't fall over this time! - I'm feeling very lucky with minimal side effects on EC – achy only. I eat a lot of salads and apricots and drink loads of lemon juice which seems to work for me. Some of the stodgier foods that others had recommended haven't appealed . . . yet. I've also built in a post-lunch sleep, and allowed myself to read in the middle of the night if I really can't sleep rather than stress it.  

Hugs back to everyone XX